Posts by Josh Moody

Genesis 44-45, Psalm 20, Matthew 8:23-34, Acts 12 Matthew 8:23-34:  Jesus is typically presented as “meek and mild,” a sort of easy-going fellow, hail-fellow-well-met type, who will go with the flow, kiss babies like a good politician, and generally fit in with other people. Christians, those who follow Jesus, are likewise often viewed as being…

Genesis 42-43, Psalm 19, Matthew 8:14-22, Acts 11:19-30  Matthew 8:14-22: We see now the beauty and the sacrifice of following Jesus. First, we meet Jesus among a family—Peter’s family. Jesus is not distant from the earthly realities of life, he does not sneer or act superior towards the needs of family, child, nursery, and mother-in-law. He was welcome…

Genesis 41, Psalm 18:25-50, Matthew 8:1-13, Acts 11:1-18 Matthew 8:1-13: Having taught so powerfully, Jesus “now comes down from the mountain” (8:1) and puts his teaching into practice—in powerful and amazing ways. First a leper is healed, at a word from Jesus, and “immediately.” No lengthy course of treatment. No weird magical incantation. God incarnate,…

Genesis 39-40, Psalm 18:1-24, Matthew 7:15-29, Acts 10:24-48   Matthew 7:15-29:  Having explained his main teaching throughout this Sermon on the Mount, Jesus now moves towards the closing of the Sermon. And as he does so he strikes a note of warning, or “beware.” Given all that he has said about what makes a real…

Genesis 37-38, Psalm 17, Matthew 7:1-14, Acts 10:1-23 Matthew 7:1-14: Having orientated us towards seeking first God’s kingdom, Jesus now turns his attention to what this means in practice—interspersed with a call to ask God as our heavenly Father for what we need.  The sentence “Judge not, that you be not judged” (7:1) is probably…

Genesis 36, Psalm 16, Matthew 6:25-34, Acts 9:20-43 Matthew 6:25-34: This section is justly famous, wonderfully practical, and precious to Christians down through the ages. It begins with “therefore,” and as always when we see a “therefore,” we should ask “What is it there for?” In other words, what is this instruction building from in…

Genesis 34-35, Psalm 15, Matthew 6:16-24, Acts 9:1-19 Matthew 6:16-24: Continuing his teaching on “practicing our righteousness,” Jesus now moves on from prayer to its logical and often paired companion: fasting (6:16-18). Christian fasting is distinctive and distinguished by its concern not to show off before others. In fact, when someone fasts, they are to…

Genesis 32-33, Psalm 14, Matthew 6:1-15, Acts 8:26-40 Matthew 6:1-15: Having focused on how we are to behave in terms of human relations, Jesus now turns to the matter of “practicing our righteousness” (6:1), which in this context means the practice of “religion” in relationship to God. He tackles two matters head on—both of which…

Genesis 31, Psalm 13, Matthew 5:33-48, Acts 8:1-25 Matthew 5:33-48: We have already, yesterday, commented on the repeated refrain that structures this middle section of the Sermon on the Mount—“you have heard that it was said…but I say to you.” This claim of Jesus to be the authoritative interpretation of the Scriptures, against the views…

Genesis 29-30, Psalm 12, Matthew 5:21-32, Acts 7:39-60 Matthew 5:21-32: As we enter into this middle section of the Sermon on the Mount, before we come to the particularities of exactly what it is that Jesus is commanding, it is important to notice and reflect upon the basic repeated structure and refrain. Jesus begins by…